First, very sorry about the no contact. Late Wednesday evening, had a document to print for my wife with all kinds of important contact and financial information. Could not get our stupid printer to work, of course. So she had to wing it, many others were not able to be contacted because of this reason.

Surgery mostly went well. Actually "cutting" time was 3 hours, less than thought. Uro surgeon was not able to put stints into kidney tubes, so narrowed, couldn't even get the thinnest wire into them, let alone the stents. So this limited the other surgeon's methodology. In the end, he did not cut apart the intestine juncture, he found severe adhesion holding part of it up against a cavity in my body, so part of it was stuck in the wrong place, causing it to fold over causing, he believes, the blockages. He's hopeful it will cure the issue, but did state, the new surgery may cause future adhesion issues and additional scarring. Hope not.

Was very rough in recovery room, there for nearly 4 hours. And to I have never had a surgery with so much post surgery pain. At no time, did I feel that I was properly medicated. I argued several times with the surgeon about this to no avail. Most times, especially the first 24 hours, one is virtually pain free. Was having so much severe chest pains, they had to run scans and tests on my heart the night after surgery, and the next night, checking my lungs out. Said they found nothing wrong and standard answer: probably just more ongoing nerve damage from the radiation. Get tired of that catch all answer.

Since he didn't have to do as much, only had to spend 5 days in hospital instead of the expected 7-10 days. Was glad to leave to come home this afternoon, you never get any real sleep or rest in a hospital. Starting at about 3 AM each morning, was an endless line of people wanting to do something, about every 20-30 minutes. Until I got home, had been wide awake the past 30 hours in severe pain.

I see the surgeon in a week, to see if staples can be removed. On a 5 lb. weight restriction, and not sure when I will allowed to drive. I am in no physical or mental state to be driving, so just as well.

Will write more later, but wanted to get something out here. So appreciate every single prayer and concern for me during this time. As usual, wife has been a real trooper. She went to work this afternoon after I was safely home. Oldest son came by after he got off work to help me. I have others lined up to help out the rest of this week.

Thanks again, been rough, but knew it would be this way. Don't think I could endure another even like this, this has been the hardest on me, and I am just getting started on the recovery side.

Everybody here on HW PC can now do a collective exhale, relieved to know that you have indeed made it to the other side. I don't know if our prayers and good wishes made a difference, but for sure they were there for you.

It sounds like it was a rough go, but if anyone could handle it, we know it was you. The strength that you have always shown showed up again in your post above: a major surgery, which even had to be modified as it went along, resulting in major pain and physical challenges for you when it was over, and you just calmly, in complete control, report the facts of it all in a manner that shows just how in charge you are, while others would be screaming into their computers about how awful it was. But that's not you, no not at all.

We are indeed so very happy for you that this major surgery has been concluded, and that you are now on the road to healing. Keep us updated, but only at a pace that is comfortable for you.Age: 69Chronic prostatitis (age 60 on)BPH w/ urinary obstruction, 6/2011TURP, 7/2011Ongoing high PSA, 7/2011-12/2011Biopsy, 12/2011: positive 3/12 (90%, 70%, 5%)Gleason 6(3+3), T1cNo mets, PCa likely still organ containedIMRT w/ HT (Lupron), 4/2012-6/2012PSAs (since post-IMRT): <0.1

Glad to hear your home, and here is to the surgery results being all you could hope for and then some! BillPSA 10.9 ~112013 Bx on 112013 at age 64 yrs 11 months, with 5 of 12 pos with one G9(5+4), 1 PNI, T2B.RALP with lymph nodes at Vanderbilt 021914. (nodes clear, but SV+, still G9 but down graded to 4+5, cut wide, but 1 tiny foci right at the edge of margin ) Pros. 106.7 gms!At 15 months, not wearing a pad most days, mostly dry PSA

In our area, we only got about 6-7", and the entire time storm was raging, I was in the hospital, never even saw it rain, bed was facing away from only window in room. Where my daughter lives in Charleston, they got almost 17". She lives in a coastal marsh area, but not reporting any serious damage. The central part of SC got nailed the hardest, from Columbia the capital, and all the towns and cities that border Interstate 95. Still entire towns cut off completely, no way to enter or leave. Going to get way worse before it gets better.

David, so glad you made it turk surgery, many continued prayers for a good recovery. Hope your getting weight put back on, unless you are going for that cover model look ( hope you don't mind the humor).Prayers and many of them...********************************************** * So many dx's I could write a book* "It would be nice if we could use the edit button in real life"...********>^..^^..^

David,I am one of the collective sigh of reliefers Was more concerned as days went by with no word, but so thrilled to hear that you are home now and will get some healing rest. Prayers that this will be the thing that finally gives you back your life.Beth n Gary

Again so glad you got thru this major surgery. With the new federal rules with pain meds more and more hospitals are becoming Norco only zones, the out patient hospital were I had my recent knee scope was a norco only zone and I literally had to beg my pm for a script and it had me very worried, maybe give your pm doctor a call...so very sorry your dealing with post surgical pain like that. Hope your pain gets better soon.For the scar try manuka honey.Many prayers...********************************************** * So many dx's I could write a book* "It would be nice if we could use the edit button in real life"...********>^..^^..^

David, Add me to the list of those who is relieved to hear you are back home and recovering. I was really worried and concerned about you even though we were dealing with all the rain in my part of SC. Fortunately we were spared the devastation that happened in Columbia and Charleston and other areas only getting about 4 inches of rain. Hope the recovery goes well and my prayers for you and your family continue.JimAge 61, Diagnosed at 586/12-PSA 4.6, Biopsy 12/19/12 Positive 4 of 12 DaVinci 2-14-13Updated Gleason 4+3=7Positive MarginsFirst post op PSA 4-5-13 Undetectable6 month post op PSA 8-6-13 0.11 year post op PSA 2-14-14 0.215 month post op PSA 5-16-14 0.3Started SRT 6-25-14Ended SRT 8-12-141st post SRT PSA 9-24-14 0.12nd post SRT PSA 12-18-14 0.011year post SRT PSA 9-18-15 <0.1

Your experience sounds similar to my recent 5 night stay in the hospital for non-PCA related surgery, but also done on the abdomen. I had pain control issues and my surgeon told me later that he was afraid of this happening as I talked to anesthesia before the surgery. Anesthesia pushed for an epidural for me, which worked great in the immediate 36 hours after surgery. I had the morphine going in automatically(rather than a push button) and then supplemented with oral morphine as needed. But, when they pulled the epidural, anesthesia did not communicate the information to urology. Consequently, 2/3 of my pain medication was removed with no corresponding increase from urology. When my nurses contacted urology, they said the dosage was fine, not understanding the epidural issue. My nurses finally got urology to understand, but even then, they gave me a marginal increase in pain medication and it took more than 24 hours to regain control. I know that docs are under pressure to restrict pain medication, but after major surgery, it seems like an absurd focus. For you, with your ongoing pain issues, I'm guessing it was even worse and I'm glad you got through it, but I'm sorry for the pain you must have endured.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear it was a shorter surgery and stay than planned and we all hope it was successful. Best of luck in the healing process. I'm three weeks out from my surgery today, and I wish I was further along in healing. Hopefully, you will do better.

David - I am sorry that you went through so much pain but am thankful that you are now recovering and hopefully the surgery will remedy some of your problems. Good to hear that you and yours made it through the big rain event there. We had about 5.5" here in the Athens, GA area and can see a hint of sunshine right now. I know you will see some sunshine too as you recover and heal.Age 65Dx 1/2011 at age 60, PSA 6.4 at Dx, G9, LARP 2/11PSA 1.1 4/11 , LupronSeven weeks EBRT ending 6/11PSA 0 from 6/11 to 1/131/13 Stopped Lupron6/13 PSA 0.07, 9/13 PSA 2.0Bone mets L2, ribs, pelvic?Back on Lupron1/14 PSA 1.00, 4/14 PSA 3.90, 8/14 PSA 9.668/18/14 Zytiga+PredXgeva-4wks, Lupron-4 months1/15 PSA 4.2, 2/15 4.86, 3/15 4.2, 4/15 3.88 5/15 4.5 7/15 3.71 8/15 3.54 9/15 3.44

I'm sorry I haven't been around. I'm really happy that the surgery went well. I'm sorry they let you go 5 days with so much pain.

Get all the rest you can. I have been wondering if your house and yard got flooded. I'm relieved to know that you have gotten through the storm with no damage.

Thoughts and prayers for a good recovery.

love and hugsLorettaDx: osteoarthritis, bursitis in left hip, Osteoarthrits in right hip, compression fracture in thoracic spine due to falling on frozen ground March 2001 , ddd, spinal stenosis, bone spurs, osteoarthritis in spine, osteoarthritis in both knees

been a rough day, despite good sleep last night, hoping my stoma area isn't getting infected inside, lots of raw pain there, which is unusual. hurts more than the incision area on the opposite site. wife will look at site in morning, as we need to change out the device, see if it looks red or swollen. may have to contact uro if it gets worse

chart - I was on less pain meds after surgery in the hospital then I would be on a normal day. made no sense to me, as in reality, the new surgery pain was over and above my normal pain. doctor wouldn't even let me use my fentanyl patch. what the ??? so all I had was diludid, low dose 1 mg, and only if I asked for it. what the ??? the first night, didn't realize I had to ask for it. threw a fit, next day, they hooked up a pain machine with a pump, but was still limiting me to 1 mg per 1 hour period. again, this has been one of the most painful post surgery events of my life. considering the size and depth of the major incision, plus what other cuts were made, fully expected to on a good dose of IV morphine, at least the first 24-48 hours. there was never an awake moment during those 5 days that I was in immense pain. never want to experience that again. should have discussed the pain management with the surgeon in advance, but he knew in detail what I was on, and why I was on it. I think he's on that ever growing list of anti-pain med doctors, that are trying to prove some moral point to themselves, at the expense of the suffering of the true in-severe pain patient. sorry, end of vent.

David,Sorry you are running into that type of ignorance re: pain meds. Anyone who takes regular narcs(like a Fentanyl patch) develops a steadily increasing tolerance to pain meds. In anesthesia we knew to watch out for you guys as you would often just laugh off normal amounts of anesthesia and pain meds. Believe it or not same thing with an alcoholic. I once gave an alcoholic an extra heavy induction dose(becaus I knew he was alcoholic) and he just propped up on his elbow ad grinned, and told me with slurred speech how goof that **it was, and could he have some more! It took a ton of stuff just to get that guy to sleep.

You should have been given extra heavy doses- really whatever it took for adequate effect- from the get go. Just go by the breathing rate. As long as the rate stays at 12 or more per minute, and the O2 sats and expire CO2(they don't always measure that) are OK, then no worries. I'll bet you got extra during anesthesia. BillPSA 10.9 ~112013 Bx on 112013 at age 64 yrs 11 months, with 5 of 12 pos with one G9(5+4), 1 PNI, T2B.RALP with lymph nodes at Vanderbilt 021914. (nodes clear, but SV+, still G9 but down graded to 4+5, cut wide, but 1 tiny foci right at the edge of margin ) Pros. 106.7 gms!At 15 months, not wearing a pad most days, mostly dry PSA

Oh my, You have every right to vent. So very sorry they put you through all that. Doctors are just so afraid of the DEA that one of these days it might come at the costs of a life. It's just crazy. Many Prayers that your healing up and that your not getting an infection, so no infection. Once your wife looks at it then maybe she can see if you need to call the surgeon. with that major of a surgery you should be on a prophylactic antibotic. Please take care and again you have my prayers...********************************************** * So many dx's I could write a book* "It would be nice if we could use the edit button in real life"...********>^..^^..^